Dubbed future Panthers star, a Bell Post Hill teenager has broken a 10-year drought at the club after making his senior debut.
Clissold has now played three senior games for the Panthers this season, helping his side to wins against North Geelong, Belmont and Thomson.
Bell Post Hill coach Justin Tarr said it was “exciting” to see the revamped junior program starting to develop senior footballers.
“Dan is a 17 year old kid who has now played his first game of senior footy, he made his debut for us against North Geelong, which was really exciting for us,” he said.
“He’s the first kid out of our junior program to play senior footy in about 10 years, we hadn’t had juniors for a long time.
“But he played all his junior footy with us and then went to Geelong West because we didn’t have an under-18s team, and then he’s come back to us, so that’s been a massive positive for us.
Dan Clissold of Bell Post Hill (41). GDFL: Thomson v Bell Post Hill. Picture: Alan Barber
“He’s a really smart footballer for a young kid, he knows what’s going on out on the ground and the more games we can get into him the better it’s going to be as he gets used to it all.
“He’s going to be a really good player for us going forward.”
The 17 year old moved to Geelong West at the start of the 2019 season, playing 42 games over three seasons before returning back to Bell Post Hill for 2023.
Clissold has averaged 7.5 disposals per game at the senior level, as well as 3.5 marks, 1.5 rebound 50s, three tackles and one score involvement while playing in the Panthers’ back line.
Bell Post Hill currently sits second on the ladder with five wins from seven games, and will have a bye on Saturday after edging out the previously undefeated Thomson for a thrilling one-point win.
Dan Clissold of Bell Post Hill (41). GDFL: Thomson v Bell Post Hill. Picture: Alan Barber
Tarr said Clissold was the first of “hopefully” a flurry of junior players progressing through the ranks of the internal club’s developmental plan.
“We do have a lot of young guys coming through, which is really great to see for our footy club,” he said.
“We just need to make sure they keep getting that proper development and guidance from our coaches at the junior level, they’ve been playing well at that level.
“So now it’s about building that depth and getting everyone up to the level to play games and help us go deep in finals.”